Formula E stars highlight electric mobility at Szeged’s E Street Parade

NewsEvents

Sep 14

The roar of engines was absent at Szeged’s E Street Parade, where Formula E drivers Nick Heidfeld and Sébastien Buemi joined researchers and industry experts to promote electric mobility and discuss its role in fighting climate change.

Fans gathered at Széchenyi Square on Sunday to meet the drivers. Heidfeld, who has competed in Formula E since its launch in 2014, praised electric racing cars, while Buemi, a full-time Formula E and World Endurance Championship driver, acknowledged missing the sound of combustion engines but noted that new auditory cues, such as tire friction, provide fresh insights for drivers.

The event included hands-on experiences for visitors. A planned go-kart slalom Grand Prix on Huszár Mátyás Quay was canceled due to the weather; instead, anyone taller than 150 cm could try the go-karts. At Széchenyi Square, smaller children could test e-gokarts and e-motorbikes. The square also hosted various vendors alongside the University of Szeged stall.

Buemi also pointed to the challenges of battery management, explaining that a single battery cannot last through a long race and that drivers must constantly optimize energy use. Despite slower speeds, both drivers said the sport is advancing rapidly with improving efficiency.

University of Szeged researchers emphasized the environmental stakes. They noted that while manufacturing and recycling batteries pose challenges, electric vehicles still offer far lower emissions compared with fossil fuels. Panelists highlighted Europe’s climate targets of cutting emissions 55 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. Hungary is already at 47 percent, according to the researchers.

Although only 1 percent of Hungary’s 4.8 million cars are electric, Norway’s share has reached 80 percent, illustrating how far the transition can go. Experts said electric mobility is not a final solution, but at present it is the most viable option for reducing emissions, alongside research into hydrogen and synthetic fuels.